EZULWINI – Africa needs climate-resilient seed varieties to protect food production from changing weather and reduce dependence on food imports, Principal Secretary Sydney Simelane says.
Speaking at the African Union Seed Summit at the Ezulwini Palazzo, Simelane said developing and expanding modern seed varieties should be a priority as the continent’s population grows.
He said the varieties should be able to withstand changing climate conditions while producing enough food for growing populations.
“Seed sovereignty remains a priority over food sovereignty. Modern seed varieties should be able to cater for climate variations and inevitable population growth,” Simelane said.
Simelane said Africa was still struggling to develop and distribute its own indigenous and climate-resilient seed varieties, leaving farmers vulnerable to unpredictable weather.
“Africa is facing a challenge of propagating its own seed varieties that will be resilient and of early maturity to address climate change,” he said.
He also warned that relying on food imports to address shortages could hurt local economies in the long term.
While imports may provide immediate relief when there is not enough food, Simelane said they could weaken local farming skills and production while taking jobs away from local communities.
“Imports seem to be an alternative, but are actually killing local agricultural skills, local food production, and literally exporting jobs,” he said.
He said continued reliance on food from neighbouring countries was not sustainable and could create dependency.
Simelane said the government remained committed to ensuring that food was available, accessible and affordable to emaSwati.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is charged with the responsibility to ensure every Liswati has sufficient food to eat,” he said.
The AU Seed Summit is bringing together agricultural experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss investment in seed development, climate adaptation and sustainable food production.
